Project 365. Day One-Eighty-Nine: Untitled...

Today's Highlights:

1) A couple bites of peach cobbler
2) First day back to school
3) Good fittin' jeans-- thank-you Jason and Sale rack @ American Eagle
4) Post-escuela nap
5) Jason sweetly waking me up from said nap (it's always the best way to wake up!) :)

Dear Husband, I owe you a letter or few. Sorry that I haven't been a good letter written wife lately--promise to do a better job now that I'm gettin' better. Your heroism constantly amazes me. Today, you drove me all the way home when you realized I wasn't feeling good and didn't have my medicine. Then, you used your whole lunch hour making sure I was okay instead of making sure you had a solid lunch. I'm so thankful for you and always so humbled by your ability to always put others before yourself. I hope I can grow up to be like you; I sure do love you!

Project 365. Day One-Eighty-Four --> One-Eighty-Eight: Why I haven't posted...

{Pictured: My brother, Adam, gave me the tiger (which I named Tulupio) when I was in the hospital for my Colectomy. Tulupio became very important to me over those 3 months and often became tied to my Morphin pump so that I wouldn't lose track of the Morphin button. Thus, Tulupio tends to go along with me on hospital trips. Jason gave me the giraffe (which I named Short Stack), on this hospital stay-- which again shows how thoughtful my husband is. I love giraffes and getting this little guy reminded me that everything would be okay, and made me smile like a little girl. :) Both Tulupio and Short Stack became a tangible comfort, and cozy reminder of how loved I am this week.}

So here's the deal:

If you remember, I had a Pouchoscopy last week. Immediately following the Pouchoscopy, is when my pain began.

I was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon due to "abdominal pain." Due to the fact that I have had a complete Colectomy, and have things like Fibromyalgia, and PCOS, they weren't sure where my pain was coming from.

They did a LOT of tests, and made me drink lots of stuff to make my insides glow. They eventually determined that I have a "fistula tract" attached to my Pouch (it's kind of like a weird fold/canal). Most likely, this tract is normally collapsed. However, when they did the Pouchoscomy, they probably poofed that track up with a little air, which really ticked it off.

Sooooooooooooo, they've given me a ton (I think 8 or more) prescriptions for pain, muscle relaxation, and anti-biotics. Did I mention those 8 plus scripts are on top of the 15 plus meds that I already take ? If you hear a strange rattling, it's just me walkin on by.

Through all this, da Hubs has been amazing. He took off work early on Wednesday so that he could take me to the hospital, and then, he never left my side....not once. He slept on a really uncomfortable cot, and wouldn't even eat in front of me since I couldn't eat. He wouldn't even go down to the cafeteria until I left the room for testing. He let me squeeze his hand any time I had pain, and he rubbed my back and told me I was doing a good job when I grimaced through a spike of pain. Everyday, he told me he was going to be strong for me so that I wouldn't have to be, and he encouraged me that no matter what the tests said, we'd get through this together. More and more everyday, he rises far beyond the typical role of a husband. He is so much more to me and I'm so very thankful for him. I just hope that I can somehow show him just how much I love and appreciate him. He's my hero!

Project 365. Day One-Eighty-Three: Some days, it's like we have a panther and a tiger wrestling in our living room...

Today's Highlights:

1) Having my Follow-Through done and over with. Now, we just have to hurry up and wait for the results.
2) Getting some extra, much needed rest.
3) My dear, sweet Hubs surprising me with Chicken n' Dumplings from Cracker Barrel b/c he knew I wasn't feeling well.
4) Hubs being so supportive and encouraging in times like these.
5) Thinking I may really enjoy spanish class this summer
6) Having what could be a really good teacher for said clase
7) Sitting next to another ASC-er in class.
8) Goodwill jeans that fit me oh so well. American Eagle, $13 dollar jeans, are you next?
9) Pandora radio.
10) Hearing stories of how loopy I got from my meds last night. Oye.

Project 365. Day One-Eighty-Two: So, if you were wondering...

...why I missed a post (allegedly), here's why:

In a nutshell, I had a Pouchoscopy done on Thursday which went well (no Pouchitis, yaaaay!). Following the procedure, I began having unusual pain (i.e. it's not the kind of pain you're likely to get after a Pouchoscopy). Originally, we thought it was a combo of gas (since they poof you up w/ so much air and/or my Fibromyalgia so, we weren't too worried about things for awhile. Long story short, the pain hasn't gone away (only flucuated) since Thursday. After speaking with my doctor, he highly encouraged me to go to the ER to get a cat scan just to rule out the possibility of any perforations (perforations = very bad). So, after about 5 hours and 3 doses of various pain killers, it was determined that I did not have any damage to my pouch (yaaaaaaaaaaaay!). The down side to all this is, I'm still having pain, and at this time, no one really knows why(boo). I was given a script for a couple pain killers/smooth muscle relaxant, and we made our dopped-up-on-pain-meds trip home around 3 am.

Being that my Dr. didn't find any problems w/ my Pouch, he has scheduled me to get a Small Bowel Follow-Through tomorrow morning to determine if I a) have Chrohn's Disease or b) have any other undiagnosed issues w/ my small intestines. Never dull right?

My Dr. had already planned to give me a Follow-Through once he saw that my Pouch was in good shape. However, now that I've had constant pain all week, he is even more adamant about me having the Follow-Through tomorrow.

So, in a nutshell, thats whats been going on.

Auntie Karen, I'm sorry I haven't returned your last email regarding my Pouch stuff...I haven't been on the computer or my email very much over the last two days. But, I'll fill you in more via email (thanks for thinking of me, I really appreciate it).

In other news, Paprika is officially Paprika thanks to his fancy new I.D. tag that we got him. Yay!

For now, I gotta get ready for bed...follow-though in the morning and first day of spanish class in the afternoon. Whew!

Project 365. Days One-Eighty and One-Eighty-One: Geez-a-loo...

This weekend has been very hectic. And yes, I have good reason as to why I didn't blog yesterday (shh! Don't tell). But, it's getting late and I don't feel great so...with your persmission, I'd rather update you on the weekend chaos tomorrow. K, thanks!



Dear Husband, Where do I begin ? I don't quite know how to thank-you for this weekend. You took a situation, which typically causes me great anxiety, and stood before it like my very own shield. Then, you assured me that no matter how things panned out, we'd get through it all together. You gave me the greatest sense of strength, and comfort. Yesterday, I felt like I was tumbling into a free fall yet, you never left my side; I never doubted that you'd catch me. You see, theres this thing that happens when you hold my hand--the whole world seems to fade away, taking every worry with it. You fight for me, and with me. And, I know you'll say, "well, that's my job, I'm your husband." But, it's so much more than a job to you. It's the chronic condition of love. Don't play it all down--you, my dearest sir--are so much more than an ordinary man, you're exceptional. I have never felt so secure in such an unsecure situation...until this weekend... and it's all b/c of you. I Sure Do Love You!

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"That quiet mutual gaze of a trusting husband and wife is like the first moment of rest or refuge from a great weariness or a great danger--not to be interfered with by speech or action which would distract the sensations from the fresh enjoyment of repose." -- George Eliot

Project 365. Day One-Seventy-Nine: Just another picture involving one of the family pets...and Jason...

Today's Highlights:

1) It's Friday.
2) That means tomorrow is Saturday.
3) Getting official word on the where and the when involving our new 'plex.
4) Redbox.
5) Watchin' a little T to the V w/ as a fam.

Happy Saturdays to you !

Project 365. Day One-Seventy-Eight: Cat Wisdom...

Mom always said to share but, she never said it would be easy.

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Dear Husband, Yesterday you were super supportive of me, and I needed that. But, I don't even have to tell you I needed that b/c you already know. This is b/c a) you can read my mind, and b) you're just that amazing of a person to know the in's and out's of my heart. Thanks for being my rock and for starring fear in the face for me. Oh yeah, and for pulling my feet back down to the ground when I begin to float away. And, Fontana's ? Thank you for that also. I enjoyed laughing with you over my cheeseless Veal Parmigiana...er...Marinara...immensely. You win my heart everyday. I love you more than all the Butterfinger and Cokes from a can out there! Happy Friday!